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Linfield's CSC Academic All-Americans

Recognizing outstanding academic achievement and athletic accomplishment across all divisions the NCAA and the NAIA, the College Sports Communicators organization (formerly the College Sports Information Directors of America or CoSIDA for short) has honored thousands of deserving student-athletes with the prestigious Academic All-America Award. Listed here are Linfield’s CSC Academic All-Americans.

Brynn Nelson, Softball
2024 and 2025

AAA Brynn Nelson

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2024 CSC first team Academic All-American
2024 NFCA first team All-American
Three-time NWC all-NWC honoree
Northwest Conference Player of the Year
Three-year letter winner
Hit .477 with 13 doubles and 15 home runs
Maintained a 3.96 grade point average
Economics and mathematics major
2023-24 Vern Marshall Award winner

Full Story

Sarah Forester, Women's Tennis
2023 and 2024

Sarah Forester

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2024 CSC second team Academic All-American
2023 CSC third team Academic All-American
Three-time NWC second team all-NWC honoree
Four-year letter winner
Four-time NWC Scholar-Athlete
Compiled a 31-17 career record in singles
Posted a 19-15 career record in doubles
Maintained a 4.00 GPA through four years
Biochemistry and molecular biology major
Two-time Erickson-Cole Scholarship winner
2021 Good Samaritan Virginia Welch Scholarship
2021 Outstanding Freshman in Chemistry Award

Full Story

Kaili Saathoff, Softball
2023, 2024 and 2025

Kaili Saathoff

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Mathematics and physics major
2024 CSC Academic All-American of the Year
2023 second team Academic All-American
2023 and 2024 Division III Elite 90 Award winner
2023 and 2024 NFCA second team All-American
2023 and 2024 first team All-Region X pick
Twice led NWC in avg., hits, runs, on-base pct.
Led 'Cats to 3rd place finish at 2024 NCAA Finals
Led 'Cats to 7th place finish at 2023 NCAA Finals
.445 avg. ranks 10th-best in program history
7th softball player to earn AAA honors

Full Story

Caleb Sell, Football
2024

Caleb Sell AAA

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2024 Second Team Academic All-American
2024 Second Team AP All-American
First team all-Northwest Conference honoree
Carried a 3.63 GPA while majoring in finance
Two-year starter at defensive end
Ranks among top 16 at Linfield in sacks and QB hurries

Full Story

Lexie Matsunaga, Women's Tennis
2023

Lexie Matsunaga

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2023 CSC second team Academic All-American
Three-time Northwest Conference all-star
2021 and 2022 Academic All-Star Award winner
2023 Wildcat Award winner
Maintained a 4.00 GPA through her four years
Went 8-3 in singles and 10-4 in doubles in 2023
Biochemistry and molecular biology major
2023 Linfield Commencement Speaker
2021 Lois Gunning Fry Scholarship recipient
2023 Albert Stout Chemistry Scholarship winner
Two-time Order of Omega Academic Award winner

Full Story

Travis Swanson, Football
2021

Travis Swanson

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2021 CoSIDA first team Academic All-American
2021 CoSIDA Academic all-District 8 selection
NWC Scholar Athlete 2019 and 2021
First team all-NWC honoree in 2019
Made careeer-best 10 tackles versus Redlands
Amassed 50 career tackles
21 tackles for loss, including 9.5 sacks
Returned an interception for a TD

Full Story

Wyatt Smith, Football
2019

Wyatt Smith

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2019 D3football.com All-American
2019 CoSIDA Academic All-American
2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District
Finalist for Gagliardi Trophy
Northwest Conference Player of the Year
Team MVP in both football and baseball
Set school record with 8 TD passes in one game
Ad Rutschman Small College Athlete of the Year
Passed for 3,531 yards and 43 TDs in 2019

Full Story

Sydney Kuehn, Women's Soccer
2019

Sydney Kuehn

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2019 CoSIDA Academic All-American
2018 CoSIDA District 8 honoree
Scored 20 goals and 49 points in 3 years
Played in 60 career matches, starting 59
Posted a 3.99 GPA as a pre-med major
First team all-conference pick in 2019
Honorable mention all-NWC in 2018
Three-year letter winner

Full Story

Jake Reimer, Football
2017

Jake Reimer

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2017 CoSIDA Academic All-American
2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District 8
Three-time first team all-NWC linebacker
Member of four straight NWC title teams
Posted a 3.92 GPA as a political science major
Appeared in 47 games
Totaled 189 total tackles, including 5½ sacks

Full Story

Kenzie Schmoll, Softball
2016

Kenzie Schmoll

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Four-year starter at second base
2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American
2015 CoSIDA Academic all-District 8
2015 NCAA Elite 89 Award winner
Three-time all-Northwest Conference infielder
Played in 180 career games, starting 174
Hit .303 with 69 career RBIs

Full Story

Eric Lawson, Baseball
2016

Eric Lawson

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American
Three-time CoSIDA Academic all-District 8
Three-time first team all-NWC linebacker
Member of four straight NWC title teams
Posted a 3.91 GPA
Majored in marketing and psychology
Member of the Kemper Scholar program
Served on Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Member of 2013 NCAA championship team
Appeared in 148 career games, starting 136
Hit .288 with 10 home runs and 94 RBIs
Named to 2017 ABCA Gold Glove Team
Three-year starter at third base

Full Story

Lisa Yamamoto, Softball
2014

Lisa Yamamoto

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Four-year letter winner
2014 CoSIDA Academic All-American
2013 NFCA first team All-American
Two-time all-West Region utility
Two-time all-Northwest Conference utility
Appeared in 146 career games, starting 108
Hit .314 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs

Full Story

Nick Fisher, Baseball
2013 and 2014

Nick Fisher

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2013 and 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-American
Member of Linfield’s 2013 NCAA title team
Posted a 3.86 GPA while majoring in math
2014 D3baseball.com All-American
Northwest Conference Player of the Year
First team all-West Region outfielder
McMinnville Regional Most Outstanding Player
Member of two NWC championship teams
Hit .331 with 44 runs and 37 RBI as a senior
First male athlete to repeat as Academic A-A

Full Story

Jacob Priester, Football
2013

Jacob Priester

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American
Majored in biology
Maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA in college
Four-year letter winner
Member of four NWC championship teams
2013 Linfield offense led the nation in scoring
Honorable mention all-NWC tight end, 2013
Played in 40 career games
Caught 26 passes for 240 yards and six TDs

Full Story

Karleigh Prestianni, Softball
2012

Karleigh Prestianni

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2012 CoSIDA Academic All-American
Majored in finance
Maintained a 3.50 GPA
Four-time NFCA All-American
Started 154 of a possible 155 games
Member of Linfield’s 2011 NCAA title team
Hit over .400 in each of her four seasons
Totaled 52 home runs and 225 RBIs
Linfield’s 2013 Female Athlete of the Year

Full Story

Jaydee Baxter, Softball
2012

Jaydee Baxter

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2012 CoSIDA Academic All-American
Majored in exercise science
Four-year softball letter winner
Key member of 2011 NCAA championship team
Member of 2010 and '12 NCAA runner-up teams
All-West Region selection as a senior in 2012
Three-time all-NWC honoree 2010, ‘11 and ‘12
Most Improved and Most Inspirational Player
Vern Marshall Award recipient
Received the “Dedication to Excellence” award

Full Story

Cole Bixenman, Baseball
2011

Cole Bixenman

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2011 Academic All-America honoree
2010 Academic All-District selection
Business major
Competed in baseball and football
First-team all-NWC outfielder
2011 NWC Baseball Player of the Year
2010-11 Linfield Male Athlete of the Year
Member of two NWC baseball title teams
Member of 2009 NWC football title club

Full Story

Brittany Miller, Softball
2009

Brittany Miller

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Sociology major
2009 Academic All-American
Three time NWC Pitcher of the Year
Four-time first team all-NWC pitcher
First team NFCA All-American, 2009
Second team NFCA All-American, 2008
2019 Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame inductee
Member of 2007 NCAA championship team
Career records for wins, shutouts and strikeouts
Surpassed 100 strikeouts each of four seasons

Full Story

Casey Stepan, Women's Basketball
2008

Casey Stepan

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2008 CoSIDA Academic All-American
Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District 8
Majored in exercise science
Maintained a spotless 4.00 GPA all 4 years
Won 9 letters in track, basketball, cross country
All-conference performer in three sports
6th all-time on basketball career scoring list
3rd all-time at Linfield in steeplechase
Competed at 2008 NCAA Track Championships
4th all-time in 1,500 run and 8th in 800 run
Vern Marshall Award recipient

Full Story

Becca Johnson, Women's Tennis
2007

Becca Johnson

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2007 CoSIDA Academic All-American
First 'Cat to compete in NCAA Championships
NCAA tournament qualifier in doubles
No. 1 player on Linfield’s first NCAA playoff team
Linfield Female Athlete of the Year 2006-07
NCAA West Region Senior Player of the Year
Two-time NWC Player of the Year
Four-time NWC all-star
2017 Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame inductee
60-19 in singles play
58-23 in doubles play

Full Story

Shelly Steinke, Softball
2006

Shelly Steinke

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Elementary education major
2006 CoSIDA Academic All-American
2006 NFCA third team All-American
Four-time first team NWC all-star
Team MVP four straight years
2016 Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame inductee
Led the Wildcats to three consecutive NWC titles
Set career marks for runs, hits, RBI, SB, average
Led Linfield to first NCAA Finals appearance
Linfield placed fourth nationally in 2006
2005-06 Linfield Female Athlete of the Year

Full Story

Lindsay Harksen, Volleyball
2005 & 2006

Lindsay Harksen

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Accounting major
Two-time second team AVCA All-American
Three-time all-Northwest Conference honoree
2016 Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame inductee
Led Linfield to back-to-back NCAA playoff berths
2005 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year
Graduated with a perfect 4.00 GPA
Set career records for blocks
No. 2 all-time in kills
No. 3 al time in service aces
Wildcats sent 66-34 during her four seasons

Full Story

Dwight Donaldson, Football
2005

Dwight Donaldson

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2005 CoSIDA Academic All-American
Starting center on 2004 NCAA title team
Four-year letterwinner
Graduated with a degree in physics

Full Story

Liz Coburn, Softball
2004

Liz Coburn

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
First team CoSIDA Academic All-American 2004
First 'Cat to receive CoSIDA Academic honors
Compiled a 20-3 pitching record in 2004
Led team to 37-9 record and NWC championship
No. 2 all-time in fewest career walks allowed
Eight shutouts ranks No. 3 for a single-season
Recorded 34 pitching wins over three seasons
Earned a Communications and English degree

Full Story